SAN MARCOS, Texas – Behind strong pitching in the nightcap, the Utah Valley University baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader at Texas State for head coach Eddie Smith's first NCAA Division I victory. After dropping the first game by a score of 14-4, UVU responded by claiming the second game of the twin bill, 5-3.
 
Starting hurler Mason Gray tossed five shutout innings for UVU (1-2) on Saturday night and the Wolverine bullpen combined to allow just three runs over the final four innings en route to picking up the 5-3 win. Andrew Hauck earned the win in relief while Nick Sims came on to record the final four outs on his way to picking up his first collegiate save. UVU will look to earn a series split in the weekend finale on Sunday. 
 
"It was a great effort on the mound in game two by all hands. Mason Gray set the tone and the two guys in relief really made some big pitches," said Smith. "It was a great win for the team. The players have worked hard to become winners, and this is a great first step."
 
GAME TWO
The Wolverines again were the first to get on the scoreboard in the nightcap, as Utah transfer Kayler Yates belted out his first home run in a UVU uniform to left to leadoff the second and give Utah Valley an early 1-0 lead. 
 
UVU starter Gray looked strong on the mound in the contest, as he retired the side in order in the first and the fifth as well as faced just one over the minimum in the second, third and fourth frames to keep it a one-run lead for the Wolverines. He also allowed just one hit while striking out two over 5.0 impressive shutout innings of work. 
 
Still 1-0 in the sixth and with UVU having gone to the bullpen, Texas State (2-1) then managed to score its first run of the game to tie the score at 1-1. Daylan Pena smacked out a two-out solo home run for TXST's first run of the contest to deadlock the contest. 
 
With one out and the bases full of Wolverines in the top of the eighth, newcomer Cole Jordan drove in the go-ahead run for UVU with an RBI single to left to bring home Mick Madsen help Utah Valley regain the lead at 2-1. The Wolverine offense wasn't done there in the inning, as it scored three more runs to extend their advantage to 5-1. Brandon Luna delivered a two-run single down the rightfield line and Trey Cutchen capped the scoring with a two-out RBI single to center. 
 
The Bobcats then got a run back in the last of the eighth on a two-out RBI knock from Jose Gonzalez, but UVU's Sims then came on and managed to get TXST's Justin Thompson to flyout to left to strand a couple of runners and end the threat. 
 
With UVU holding to a 5-2 lead in the last of the ninth, the Bobcats made things interesting thanks to a leadoff solo homer from Dalton Shuffield to pull within two at 5-3. With a runner aboard and what would be the tying run at the plate, UVU's Sims retired back-to-back hitters with a flyout and a strikeout to preserve the win for the Wolverines. 
 
In relief, Hauck (1-0) gave up just two runs on four hits over 2.2 innings to pick up his first NCAA Division I victory. Sims then surrendered just one run on two hits while striking out one over the final inning and a third to pick up the save. Texas State reliever Cameron Bush (0-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs in an inning and a third. 
 
Sims' older brother Drew Sims led UVU offensively by going 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Jordan also had a two-hit game for the Wolverines by going 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Luna drove in two runs and went 1-for-3 with a run scored, and Yates added a 1-for-4 performance with a homer, an RBI, a walk and two runs scored. Gonzalez paced TXST at the plate by going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. 
 
GAME ONE
The Wolverine offense didn't waste any time getting things going in the first game of the day, as Brody Ponti and Paul Vossen quickly singled. After a fielder's choice from Garrett Broussard, Madsen delivered the big hit of the frame for UVU with a two-run single to right center to bring in both Vossen and Broussard and make it 2-0 Wolverines. 
 
The Bobcats quickly struck back with a pair of runs of their own in the last of the first to tie the game at 2-2. With one out and bases loaded, Wesley Faison drove home two runs with a two-run single through the left side. The Wolverine defense responded, however, with an inning ending double play to keep the game tied. 
 
Texas State again loaded the bases in the second and managed to score four runs to take a 6-2 advantage. Pena had the big hit in the frame with a two-run single to left. 
 
The Wolverines then bounced back in the third following a leadoff double from Ponti and an RBI-triple from Vossen to make it a 6-3 ballgame. Madsen later followed by driving in his third run of the game with an RBI groundout to make it 6-4.
 
TXST didn't go away, however, as it added four more runs in the bottom of the third and another in the fourth to extend its lead to 11-4. August Ramirez homered for the Bobcats in the third and both Isaiah Ortega-Jones and Shuffield added extra-base RBI knocks during the stretch to help extend TXST's lead. 
 
The Bobcats then added an insurance run in the seventh and two more in the eighth thanks to a two-RBI double from Ryan Leary to put the game away via the 10-run rule. 
 
Cal Beardsley made his first career start in a UVU uniform in the contest on the mound, but fellow Wolverine newcomer Luke McCollough was tagged with the loss in relief to fall to 0-1 on the season. TXST starter Triston Dixon surrendered four runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings to take a no decision while reliever Carson Keithley (1-0) was credited with the win after tossing 3.2 scoreless innings of work. A total of four pitchers appeared in the game for UVU and freshman Alex Karns led the way in his first collegiate outing by striking out two and allowing just two hits over two shutout innings of work. 
 
Vossen led UVU offensively in the contest by going 3-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. Mitch Moralez was next by going 2-for-2 with a walk, while Madsen drove home three runs and finished with a 1-for-4 outing. Five Bobcats drove home two runs apiece in the contest and a total of seven TXST hitters recorded multiple-hit outings. 
 
ON DECK FOR UVU
The Wolverines will close the season-opening series on Sunday at Texas State's Bobcat Ballpark at 11 a.m. MT/noon CT. The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. UVU is then scheduled to host the Utah Utes in its 2022 home opener on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at UCCU Ballpark.